University of Calgary: Genetic Research on Zebrafish Helps Understanding of Human Disease

Scientists at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine are using zebrafish to learn more about how neurons in the hypothalamic region of the brain develop and organize.

Researcher Deborah Kurrasch, PhD, says using zebrafish to identify the genes important for hypothalamic development and function has the potential to shed insight into human conditions such as appetite or sleep disorders, as well as hypothalamic-pituitary diseases, such as hyper- or hypothyroidism.

On Thursday, Calgary Centre MP Lee Richardson will make a funding announcement at the Faculty of Medicine which will help Kurrasch and her team expand their research. The announcement will take place as part of a nation-wide funding announcement by the Canada Foundation for Innovation that will support nine University of Calgary research projects.

WHAT: News conference followed by interviews with the speakers and researchers.

Photo opportunities will be available in the lab and in a separate room where the zebrafish are kept.

WHO: Lee Richardson, MP, Calgary Centre

Deborah Kurrasch, University of Calgary scientist

Ed McCauley, University of Calgary vice-president (research)

WHEN: Thursday, September 1 at 11 am

WHERE: Heath Sciences Building, 3330 Hospital Dr. N.W., Calgary AB

Please meet at the info desk across from Parking Lot 6

Contact Information

University of CalgaryKathryn SloniowskiCommunications Advisor, Faculty of Medicine403.220.2232kjslonio@ucalgary.ca